ITV1 pulled in the highest figure, with The Michael Jackson Story – which replaced drama repeat Doc Martin – attracting 4.5 million and a 21% share in the 9pm hour.

BBC1's News Special: Michael Jackson, which replaced Air Medics, drew 2.9 million and a 15% share between 7.30pm and 8pm, according to unofficial overnight figures.

Channel 4's Michael Jackson: A Life in Pop, which replaced a repeat of A Place in the Sun: Home or USA, claimed 1.3 million and a 7% share in the 8pm hour. A further 63,000 watched on Channel 4 +1 an hour later.

BBC2's Michael Jackson Newsnight Review Special picked up 1.2 million viewers and a 9% share between 11pm and 11.20pm; while Five's Michael Jackson: King of Pop, which replaced its news and Top Trumps in the 7pm hour, drew 600,000 and a 3% share.

Sky1's The Michael Jackson Story, which replaced Guinness World Records Smashed! in the 8pm hour, drew 193,000 and a multichannel share of 1.1%.

Elsewhere, BBC1 inserted a special scene in EastEnders about Jackson's death, which was watched by 6.9 million and a 36% share between 8pm and 8.30pm.

Meanwhile, BBC1's drama Hotel Babylon pulled in 3.5 million and a 17% share in the 9pm hour.

Channel 4's Big Brother collected 1.9 million and a 9% share in the 9pm hour and 1.6 million and 10% share between 10.35pm and 11.10pm. A further 136,000 and 131,000 tuned in respectively for the two instalments on Channel 4 +1.

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